Pedal device for pianos and other purposes



APPLICATION FILED MAY 15, I919.

Patented Apr. 12, 1921.

jazz! an;

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE. 1

BENJAMIN I-I. JEFFERSON AND WALTER I. KIRK, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS,ASSIGNORS TO LYON & HEALY, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, A CORPORATION OFILLINOIS.

PEDAL DEVICE FOR PIANOS AND OTHER PURPOSES.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed May 15, 1919. Serial No. 297,379.

To all to 7mm it may concern Be it known that we, BENJAMIN H. JEF-FERSON and VVALTER I. KIRK citizens of the United States, residing atChicago, in the county of Cook and State of Illinois, have invented acertain new and useful Improvement in Pedal Devices for Pianos and OtherPurposes, of which the following is a full,

clear, concise, and exact description, reference being had to theaccompanying drawings,forming a part of this specification.

Our invention .relates to pedal devices, such as are used for pianos andfor other purposes.

One of the objects of the invention is to provide a pedal device of theclass mentioned which can be acted upon at a point or position above theone which is usually or normally acted or pressed upon.

Another object of the invention is to permit the pedal device to beoperated by acting upon it at such usual or normal position, as well asat such elevated point or position.

Another object of the invention is to secure these pressing surfaces atdifferent horizontallevels by means of a construction similar in generalshape and character to the usual piano pedal.

Another object of the invention is to secure the different levelpressing surfaces in a piano-pedal-like construction by adjustabledevices contained largely within such construction.

Another object of the invention is to arrange for the easy, ready andquick adjustment of such relatively adjustable parts.

Another object of the invention is to secure simplicity andpracticability of construction and operation.

Another object of the invention is to accomplish the foregoing and otherdesirable results in a simple and expeditious manner.

In the accompanying drawings Figure 1 is a front elevation of the lowerpart of' the front of a piano provided with three pedal devicesembodying our present invention;

Fig. 2 is a vertical section taken on line 2-2 in Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a cross section taken on line 3-3 in Fig. 2.

Referring to the drawings, the front of a piano is indicated at 1 andthere are three pedal devices shown numbered respectively 2, 3 and 4.The pedal devices 2 and 3 are in condition to be acted upon and operatedin the manner normal or usual for piano pedals. The third pedal device,A, is in con dition to be acted upon and operated at a point above thenormal or usual pressing surface. Each of the pedal devices referred toconsists of a rear portion or shank 5, (Fig. 2), which is firmly andsecurely mounted to the usuallpedal bar '6 which is understood to extendto some part of the piano mechanism'which will be actuated by the pedaldevice. Each pedal device also has a main or body part or pedal member7, having a rear portion 8 which extends lengthwise of the shank 5, anda horizontal portion 9 extending forwardly from the portion 8. Thishorizontal portion 9 is preferably in the form of the usual piano pedal,so that its toe portion 10 provides a pressing surface which maybecontacted with and acted upon by the foot of the person playing thepiano.

The body portion 7 is mounted so that it can be moved or swung upwardlyto permit the toe portion 10 to provide an elevated pressing surface. Asone arrangement said portion 7 may be hinged or pivoted at 11 toPatented Apr. 12, 1921'. is

the upper end of the shank 5 so that said I order to hold the member 7in this elevated position, we provide a link member 12 pivoted at 13 tothe pedal bar 6 and arranged to fit in a longitudinal slot or groove 14in the member 7,'as shown in Fig. 3. This link 10 is provided with tworecesses or notches 15 and 16 located at its opposite ends, and thepedal member 7 is provided with a pin 17. A spring 18 is arranged withinthe slot 14 above the link 12. The rear end 20 of said spring 18 isinserted into a notch in the portion 8 and the front end 21 is arrangedto move freely with ref erence to the member 17.

Thus when the pedal member 7 is in the normal pedal position, as shownby solid lines in Fig. 2, the notch 15 in the link 12 will be inengagement with the pin 17 and the spring 18 will tend to hold said linkin such engagement, thereby locking the pedal member 7 in such normal orlowered position. When, however, the link 12 is disen- 7 may be swungupwardly to the position shown in dotted lines in said Fig. 2. At theupper limit of said swinging movement, the pin 17 will come intoengagement with the notch 16 in the link 12 and the spring 18 will forcesaid link into engagement with said pin, thereby locking the link 12 andthe pedal member 7 in the upper adjustment, in which upper adjustmentthe upper portion of the toe part 10 of the pedal device will form apressing surface substantially above the pressing surface of the pedaldevice in its normal or usual condition.

As an arrangement for permitting the engagement and disengagement of thelink 12 with reference to the pin 17, said link 12 is provided with ashank 22 which projects downwardly and outwardly through the slot 14 sothat an end portion is exposed so that it may be pushed inwardly againstthe action of the spring 18 by means of the finger or thumb. Thus bypressing in the end 21 the link 12 maybe disengaged from the pin 17, nomatter in which of the notches 15 and 16 said pin is engaged, and whenso disengaged the part 7 may be adjusted up or down as desired, to bringsaid part into its lowered or elevated position to provide the lower andupper actuating or pressing surfaces.

It will be understood that changes and modifications may be made withoutdeparting from the spirit of the invention.

What we claim is:

l. A pedal device having a pressing surface mounted for verticaladjustment and means for holding said surface in different adjustments,said holding means comprising a spring controlled link and a pin forengaging a recess in said link. J

1 2. A pedal device in the form of a piano pedal, the rear end of whichis pivotally mounted so as to permit the front end to be raised andlowered, and means for holding said pedal in different verticallyadjusted positions, said pedal being provided with a recess below itspressing surface and said holding means being arranged within saidrecess. n

3. A pedal device in the form of a piano pedal, the rear end of whichextends up wardly and is pivotally mounted at its upper end so as topermit the front end portion of said pedal to be raised and lowered.

t. A pedal device in the form of a piano pedal, the rear end of whichextends upwardly and is pivot-ally mounted at its upper end so as topermit the front end portion of said pedal to be raised and lowered, andmeans for holding said pedal in different vertically adjusted positions.

5. A pedal device in the form of a piano pedal, the rear end of whichextends upwardly and is pivotally mounted at its upper end so as topermit the front end portion of said pedal to be raised and lowered, andmeans for holding said pedal in dillerent vertically adjusted positions,said means comprising a link pivotally mounted to the pedal support anda. pin carried by the pedal and adapted to engage a recess in said link.

6. A pedal device provided with an adjustable member hinged at its rearend so that its front end may be swung up and down to provide pressingsurfaces at difierent horizontal levels, and means for locking saidmember in such different horizontal levels, said means comprising apivoted link provided with notches and a pin on said member for engagingsaid notches. V

7. A pedal device comprising a shank adapted to be secured to a pedalbar, an adjustable pedal member having its rear end hinged to saidshank, a link pivoted to said pedal bar and arranged within a slot orgroove in said member, said link being provided with notches, and a pincarried by said member and extending across the slot or groove therein,said pin being positioned and adapted to engage the. notchesfin saidlink to lock said member in adjusted position, and a spring acting uponsaidlink to hold it in looking engagement with said pin. v.

In witness whereof we hereunto subscribe our names this 21th day ofApril, A. D. 1919.

BENJAMIN n. JEFFERSON. WALTER I. KIRK.

